Although not nearly as ludicrous, this could be seen as Paramount's companion piece to its 'Naked Jungle' from the same year and instead of hordes of killer ants we have herds of marauding pachyderms. The presence of William Dieterle in the director's chair is a definite plus.
Distinct echoes here of 'Rebecca' with Peter Finch and Elizabeth Taylor as Maxim and Mrs. De Winter and Abraham Sofaer as Mrs. Danvers. Ironic indeed that Mr. Finch was Laurence Olivier's protegé as Olivier was prevented by prior commitments from appearing in this. Miss Taylor was replacing the indisposed Vivien Leigh whose interest in Mr. Finch was more than purely professional.
The film itself boasts the customarily splendid Paramount production values, is beautifully shot by Loyal Griggs with a suitably dramatic score by Franz Waxman. Mr. Finch glowers magnificently, Miss Taylor at twenty-two is in the full bloom of her beauty and the always excellent Dana Andrews has a thankless role as 'the other man'. Following his 'greylisting' William Dieterle was to find worthwhile directorial assignments increasingly elusive but he does his very best here with the material at his disposal.
People see films in surprisingly different ways and an earlier reviewer has suggested that the stampeding elephants represent 'resistance to British colonialism.' Yes, well.....
